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Alcântara LM, Ferreira TCS, Fontana V, Chatelain E, Moraes CB, Freitas-Junior LH. A Multi-Species Phenotypic Screening Assay for Leishmaniasis Drug Discovery Shows That Active Compounds Display a High Degree of Species-Specificity. Molecules 2020; 25:E2551. [PMID: 32486239 PMCID: PMC7321149 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25112551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
High genetic and phenotypic variability between Leishmania species and strains within species make the development of broad-spectrum antileishmanial drugs challenging. Thus, screening panels consisting of several diverse Leishmania species can be useful in enabling compound prioritization based on their spectrum of activity. In this study, a robust and reproducible high content assay was developed, and 1280 small molecules were simultaneously screened against clinically relevant cutaneous and visceral species: L. amazonensis, L. braziliensis, and L. donovani. The assay is based on THP-1 macrophages infected with stationary phase promastigotes and posterior evaluation of both compound antileishmanial activity and host cell toxicity. The profile of compound activity was species-specific, and out of 51 active compounds, only 14 presented broad-spectrum activity against the three species, with activities ranging from 52% to 100%. Notably, the compounds CB1954, Clomipramine, Maprotiline, Protriptyline, and ML-9 presented pan-leishmanial activity, with efficacy greater than 70%. The results highlight the reduced number of compound classes with pan-leishmanial activity that might be available from diversity libraries, emphasizing the need to screen active compounds against a panel of species and strains. The assay reported here can be adapted to virtually any Leishmania species without the need for genetic modification of parasites, providing the basis for the discovery of broad spectrum anti-leishmanial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M. Alcântara
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil; (L.M.A.); (T.C.S.F.); (V.F.)
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Thalita C. S. Ferreira
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil; (L.M.A.); (T.C.S.F.); (V.F.)
- Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP 05503-900, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Fontana
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil; (L.M.A.); (T.C.S.F.); (V.F.)
| | - Eric Chatelain
- Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland;
| | - Carolina B. Moraes
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil; (L.M.A.); (T.C.S.F.); (V.F.)
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Lucio H. Freitas-Junior
- Laboratório Nacional de Biociências (LNBio), Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM), Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil; (L.M.A.); (T.C.S.F.); (V.F.)
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-900, Brazil
- Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP 05503-900, Brazil
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Zuma NH, Smit FJ, Seldon R, Aucamp J, Jordaan A, Warner DF, N'Da DD. Single-step synthesis and in vitro anti-mycobacterial activity of novel nitrofurantoin analogues. Bioorg Chem 2020; 96:103587. [PMID: 32044516 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2020.103587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) as well as the requirement for long, expensive and toxic drug regimens impede efforts to control and eliminate TB. Therefore, there's a need for effective and affordable anti-mycobacterial agents which can shorten the duration of therapy and are active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in both active and latent phases. Nitrofurantoin (NFT) is a hypoxic agent with activity against a myriad of anaerobic pathogens and, like the first-line TB drug, rifampicin (RIF), kills non-replicating bacilli. However, the poor ability of NFT to cross host cell membranes and penetrate tissue means that it does not reach therapeutic concentrations. To improve TB efficacy of NFT, a series of NFT analogues was synthesized and evaluated in vitro for anti-mycobacterial activity against the laboratory strain, Mtb H37Rv, and for potential cytotoxicity using human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) and Chinese hamster ovarian (CHO) cells. The NFT analogues showed good safety profiles, enhanced anti-mycobacterial potency, improved lipophilicity, as well as reduced protein binding affinity. Analogue 9 which contains an eight carbon aliphatic chain was the most active, equipotent to isoniazid (INH), a major front-line agent, with MIC90 = 0.5 μM, 30-fold more potency than the parent drug, nitrofurantoin (MIC90 = 15 μM), and 100-fold more selective towards mycobacteria. Therefore, 9 was identified as a validated hit for further investigation in the urgent search for new, safe and affordable TB drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nonkululeko H Zuma
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
| | - Frans J Smit
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
| | - Ronnett Seldon
- SAMRC Drug Discovery and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
| | - Janine Aucamp
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
| | - Audrey Jordaan
- SAMRC/NHLS/UCT Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit, Department of Pathology and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | - Digby F Warner
- SAMRC/NHLS/UCT Molecular Mycobacteriology Research Unit, Department of Pathology and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, 7925, South Africa; Wellcome Centre for Clinical Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - David D N'Da
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa.
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Zuma NH, Aucamp J, N'Da DD. An update on derivatisation and repurposing of clinical nitrofuran drugs. Eur J Pharm Sci 2019; 140:105092. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2019.105092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Evaluating the level of nitroreductase activity in clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates to support strategies for nitro drug and prodrug development. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2019; 54:538-546. [PMID: 31398484 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2019.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
To understand the potential utility of novel nitroreductase (NR)-activated prodrugs, NR enzyme activity was assessed in clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates using a NR-activated fluorescent probe. NR activity was constant throughout the bacterial growth cycle, but individual K. pneumoniae isolates exhibited a wide range of NR activity levels. The genes of major NR enzymes (nfsA and nfnB) showed a number of sequence variants. Aside from a C-terminal extension of NfnB, which may be responsible for lower NR activity in specific isolates, the genetic differences did not explain the variation in activity. Analysis of important clinical strains (ST11, ST258, ST14 and ST101) showed significant variation in NR activity between isolates within the same sequence type despite conservation of nfsA/nfnB sequences. Addition of methyl viologen (MV), a known activator of soxRS, caused a significant increase in NR activity for all strains, with proportionally larger increases in activity seen for strains with low uninduced NR levels. Real-time PCR on selected strains following exposure to MV showed upregulation of soxS (15-32-fold) and nfsA (5-22-fold) in all strains tested. Expression of nfnB was upregulated 2-5-fold in 4/6 strains tested. High levels of NR activity in the absence of MV activation correlated with nitrofurantoin susceptibility. These data provide evidence that NR gene mutations and regulatory pathways influence NR activity in K. pneumoniae isolates and this is likely to impact treatment efficacy with novel nitro-containing drugs or prodrugs.
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Dea-Ayuela MA, Bilbao-Ramos P, Bolás-Fernández F, González-Cardenete MA. Synthesis and antileishmanial activity of C7- and C12-functionalized dehydroabietylamine derivatives. Eur J Med Chem 2016; 121:445-450. [PMID: 27318121 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2016.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Revised: 05/17/2016] [Accepted: 06/03/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Abietane-type diterpenoids, either naturally occurring or synthetic, have shown a wide range of pharmacological actions, including antiprotozoal properties. In this study, we report on the antileishmanial evaluation of a series of (+)-dehydroabietylamine derivatives functionalized at C7 and/or C12. Thus, the activity in vitro against Leishmania infantum, Leishmania donovani, Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania guyanensis, was studied. Most of the benzamide derivatives showed activities at low micromolar concentration against cultured promastigotes of Leishmania spp. (IC50 = 2.2-46.8 μM), without cytotoxicity on J774 macrophage cells. Compound 15, an acetamide, was found to be the most active leishmanicidal agent, though it presented some cytotoxicity on J774 cells. Among the benzamide derivatives, compounds 8 and 10, were also active against L. infantum intracellular amastigotes, being 18- and 23-fold more potent than the reference compound miltefosine, respectively. Some structure-activity relationships have been identified for the antileishmanial activity in these dehydroabietylamine derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Auxiliadora Dea-Ayuela
- Departamento de Farmacia, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Avda. Seminario s/n, 46113 Moncada (Valencia), Spain; Departamento de Parasitología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Plaza Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Bilbao-Ramos
- Departamento de Parasitología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Plaza Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Bolás-Fernández
- Departamento de Parasitología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Plaza Ramón y Cajal s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel A González-Cardenete
- Instituto de Tecnología Química, Universitat Politècnica de València-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Avda. de los Naranjos s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain.
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Design, structural and spectroscopic elucidation of new nitroaromatic carboxylic acids and semicarbazones for the in vitro screening of anti-leishmanial activity. J Mol Struct 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2014.08.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Pinto EG, Santos IO, Schmidt TJ, Borborema SET, Ferreira VF, Rocha DR, Tempone AG. Potential of 2-hydroxy-3-phenylsulfanylmethyl-[1,4]-naphthoquinones against Leishmania (L.) infantum: biological activity and structure-activity relationships. PLoS One 2014; 9:e105127. [PMID: 25171058 PMCID: PMC4149375 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2014] [Accepted: 07/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Naphtoquinones have been used as promising scaffolds for drug design studies against protozoan parasites. Considering the highly toxic and limited therapeutic arsenal, the global negligence with tropical diseases and the elevated prevalence of co-morbidities especially in developing countries, the parasitic diseases caused by various Leishmania species (leishmaniasis) became a significant public health threat in 98 countries. The aim of this work was the evaluation of antileishmanial in vitro potential of thirty-six 2-hydroxy-3-phenylsulfanylmethyl-[1,4]-naphthoquinones obtained by a three component reaction of lawsone, the appropriate aldehyde and thiols adequately substituted, exploiting the in situ generation of o-quinonemethides (o-QM) via the Knoevenagel condensation. The antileishmanial activity of the naphthoquinone derivatives was evaluated against promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum and their cytotoxicity was verified in mammalian cells. Among the thirty-six compounds, twenty-seven were effective against promastigotes, with IC50 values ranging from 8 to 189 µM; fourteen compounds eliminated the intracellular amastigotes, with IC50 values ranging from 12 to 65 µM. The compounds containing the phenyl groups at R1 and R2 and with the fluorine substituent at the phenyl ring at R2, rendered the most promising activity, demonstrating a selectivity index higher than 15 against amastigotes. A QSAR (quantitative structure activity relationship) analysis yielded insights into general structural requirements for activity of most compounds in the series. Considering the in vitro antileishmanial potential of 2-hydroxy-3-phenylsulfanylmethyl-[1,4]-naphthoquinones and their structure-activity relationships, novel lead candidates could be exploited in future drug design studies for leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika G. Pinto
- Centre for Parasitology and Mycology, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Isabela O. Santos
- Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto de Química, Departamento de Química Orgânica, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Thomas J. Schmidt
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry (IPBP), University of Münster, PharmaCampus, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Vitor F. Ferreira
- Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto de Química, Departamento de Química Orgânica, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - David R. Rocha
- Universidade Federal Fluminense, Instituto de Química, Departamento de Química Orgânica, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Andre G. Tempone
- Centre for Parasitology and Mycology, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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